01Profile
A Sharar Lazima Photo
Sharar Lazima
Model / Writer — Tokyo
03Interview
Name, where are you from?
Sharar Lazima. No identity. I identify as non-nationality, based in Tokyo.
What do you do?
Model / Writer.
What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
Many of the UK musicians and bands I love have already broken up or passed away, or there are lots of places I can’t physically get to because of the location, or travel restrictions. But from the bands I’ve seen in person, I’ll say The Chemical Brothers at the 2019 Fuji Rock Festival. It was a show where I could really sense these strong back-and-forths between techno and rock. If we are talking about video, then The Rolling Stones American Tour 1969. It was right after the release of 'Sympathy for the Devil'. The Hells Angels were there as security, but they turned on the crowd and someone died during the performance. It’s a shocking video that has stayed with me.
Which subcultures have influenced you?
Psychedelic rock of the '60s. Bands like Pink Floyd who are on my playlist, and The Beatles and Rolling Stones carry that same kind of feeling. I usually listen to a lot of techno, but the UK has shaped my music taste so much and these bands have been particularly influential.
Of all the venues you’ve played, which is your favourite?
That has to be Tresor, the techno club in Berlin. The place is a true underground venue. Berghain is also cool, but I personally prefer the narrower spaces.
If you could be on the line up with any bands in history?
The Beatles. I’d love to sing with John Lennon on 'I Am the Walrus' from the 'Magical Mystery Tour' album.
If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
I’d love to be in a 1969 London club with Mick Jagger. There would be lots of legends there, but just walking through the door with Mick Jagger … I’d be an “it girl” for the evening (lol).
Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Shygirl and Coucou Chloe. They were artists on the underground London scene, but when they first came out with these industrial and noisy tracks over rap or new-wave vocals, they were speaking directly to us modern generation of digital natives, just killing it with their powerful individuality. In the beginning, their music wasn’t on Spotify or anything, so I’d listen to all their stuff on SoundCloud. I wasn’t really listening to them because they were from the UK, more that they were my favourite artists from my generation. They came to Japan around two years ago and I went to see them at WWWβ in Shibuya. Even though they didn’t have such a strong following in Japan, their show had such intense energy. I was dancing right up the front, and I think that was the last time I’ve got to see them so close. After that, they both worked on remixes for Lady Gaga’s album and caught a lot of attention through that. Shygirl was front and centre of the last Burberry campaign and is gaining real traction as a scene leader. I think she’s someone who will genuinely keep growing as a musician rather than just settle for more and more exposure.
02Playlist
04Playlist Notes
The first track you played on repeat?
'Yesterday' by The Beatles and 'Imagine' by John Lennon. These were probably the first foreign songs I was conscious of because they were connected to my mother’s home country of Bangladesh and the independence movement that happened there.
A song that defines the teenage you?
'I Wanna Be Yours' by Arctic Monkeys. Before I was big into techno, I was listening to a lot of bands. But at that time, I don’t think I was really listening to the lyrics. I was more taken with the tone colours and melody.
One record you would keep forever?
'Screamadelica' by Primal Scream. I nearly went for the Pink Floyd track 'Echoes' from the 'Meddle' album, but 'Screamadelica' has got 'Higher Than The Sun'.
A song lyric that has inspired you?
I’ve always focused on the tracks and sounds rather than the lyrics when listening to music. But one of the songs that made the biggest impression on me lyrically is 'Here Comes The Sun' by The Beatles. It’s on the 'Abbey Road' album and the song before it, 'I Want You', has this ending that makes you feel really uneasy and uncomfortable. Then there’s this dramatic switch-up with the sweetness of 'Here Comes The Sun'. Listening to the track felt like a warm embrace and I was completely taken with the flow of the song and the lyrics.
Best song to turn up loud?
'Gimme Shelter' by The Rolling Stones. I’m belting it out inside my head when I’m riding the bus. It just seems to fit with what’s rolling past when I look out of the bus window.
A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
'Viva La Vida' by Coldplay was massive when I was in my early years at primary school, and I loved it. The music I’m into nowadays is pretty deep, but there was a time back in primary school when I liked more major songs like this.
New bands you are listening to now?
Shygirl and Coucou Chloe, like I’ve already mentioned, are the two I listen to the most. Our generation doesn’t really think about the origin of the music, say from the UK, for example. We choose music that transcends gender and culture. Out of that music, the coolest sounds I can think of are from the UK. The London scene just can’t be replicated anywhere else. As for other UK music, I’m into British artists of Indian descent. Similarly, Raveena is an American artist with Indian roots. I feel there is a whole new generation emerging.
03Interview
Name, where are you from?
Sharar Lazima. No identity. I identify as non-nationality, based in Tokyo.
What do you do?
Model / Writer.
What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
Many of the UK musicians and bands I love have already broken up or passed away, or there are lots of places I can’t physically get to because of the location, or travel restrictions. But from the bands I’ve seen in person, I’ll say The Chemical Brothers at the 2019 Fuji Rock Festival. It was a show where I could really sense these strong back-and-forths between techno and rock. If we are talking about video, then The Rolling Stones American Tour 1969. It was right after the release of 'Sympathy for the Devil'. The Hells Angels were there as security, but they turned on the crowd and someone died during the performance. It’s a shocking video that has stayed with me.
Which subcultures have influenced you?
Psychedelic rock of the '60s. Bands like Pink Floyd who are on my playlist, and The Beatles and Rolling Stones carry that same kind of feeling. I usually listen to a lot of techno, but the UK has shaped my music taste so much and these bands have been particularly influential.
Of all the venues you’ve played, which is your favourite?
That has to be Tresor, the techno club in Berlin. The place is a true underground venue. Berghain is also cool, but I personally prefer the narrower spaces.
If you could be on the line up with any bands in history?
The Beatles. I’d love to sing with John Lennon on 'I Am the Walrus' from the 'Magical Mystery Tour' album.
If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
I’d love to be in a 1969 London club with Mick Jagger. There would be lots of legends there, but just walking through the door with Mick Jagger … I’d be an “it girl” for the evening (lol).
Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Shygirl and Coucou Chloe. They were artists on the underground London scene, but when they first came out with these industrial and noisy tracks over rap or new-wave vocals, they were speaking directly to us modern generation of digital natives, just killing it with their powerful individuality. In the beginning, their music wasn’t on Spotify or anything, so I’d listen to all their stuff on SoundCloud. I wasn’t really listening to them because they were from the UK, more that they were my favourite artists from my generation. They came to Japan around two years ago and I went to see them at WWWβ in Shibuya. Even though they didn’t have such a strong following in Japan, their show had such intense energy. I was dancing right up the front, and I think that was the last time I’ve got to see them so close. After that, they both worked on remixes for Lady Gaga’s album and caught a lot of attention through that. Shygirl was front and centre of the last Burberry campaign and is gaining real traction as a scene leader. I think she’s someone who will genuinely keep growing as a musician rather than just settle for more and more exposure.
04Playlist Notes
The first track you played on repeat?
'Yesterday' by The Beatles and 'Imagine' by John Lennon. These were probably the first foreign songs I was conscious of because they were connected to my mother’s home country of Bangladesh and the independence movement that happened there.
A song that defines the teenage you?
'I Wanna Be Yours' by Arctic Monkeys. Before I was big into techno, I was listening to a lot of bands. But at that time, I don’t think I was really listening to the lyrics. I was more taken with the tone colours and melody.
One record you would keep forever?
'Screamadelica' by Primal Scream. I nearly went for the Pink Floyd track 'Echoes' from the 'Meddle' album, but 'Screamadelica' has got 'Higher Than The Sun'.
A song lyric that has inspired you?
I’ve always focused on the tracks and sounds rather than the lyrics when listening to music. But one of the songs that made the biggest impression on me lyrically is 'Here Comes The Sun' by The Beatles. It’s on the 'Abbey Road' album and the song before it, 'I Want You', has this ending that makes you feel really uneasy and uncomfortable. Then there’s this dramatic switch-up with the sweetness of 'Here Comes The Sun'. Listening to the track felt like a warm embrace and I was completely taken with the flow of the song and the lyrics.
Best song to turn up loud?
'Gimme Shelter' by The Rolling Stones. I’m belting it out inside my head when I’m riding the bus. It just seems to fit with what’s rolling past when I look out of the bus window.
A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
'Viva La Vida' by Coldplay was massive when I was in my early years at primary school, and I loved it. The music I’m into nowadays is pretty deep, but there was a time back in primary school when I liked more major songs like this.
New bands you are listening to now?
Shygirl and Coucou Chloe, like I’ve already mentioned, are the two I listen to the most. Our generation doesn’t really think about the origin of the music, say from the UK, for example. We choose music that transcends gender and culture. Out of that music, the coolest sounds I can think of are from the UK. The London scene just can’t be replicated anywhere else. As for other UK music, I’m into British artists of Indian descent. Similarly, Raveena is an American artist with Indian roots. I feel there is a whole new generation emerging.